A selection of websites explaining how Switzerland is structured and how it functions, providing you with the information you will need to form an opinion and exercise your political rights from overseas

Services

Contact the responsible Swiss representation or consulate when you want to register or unregister as a resident, when you need a new passport, have moved or wish to apply for citizenship. The entire selection of services offered can be found in the dropdown menu to the right. The contact details of the responsible Swiss representation are shown on the corresponding page.

Swiss citizens who get into difficulties abroad, also can ask for advice and help from the Swiss representative.

The magazine for the Swiss Abroad appears six times a year and provides information about what is happening at home and the activities of Swiss associations abroad. It also answers administrative questions.

Switzerland uses its enlargement contribution to increase the efficiency of the Estonian emergency services, promote energy efficient building methods and improve border security with automatic number plate recognition

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Legalisations

You need to have your signature, or the seal and official signatures of an authority on a document, authenticated (legalised).

In accordance with the Ordinance on the Swiss Persons and Institutions Abroad, the Swiss representations abroad are among others authorized to legalise the seal and official signatures of the receiving state as well as the signatures of private persons.

Legalisation involves a written declaration by the person carrying out the legalisation (judicial or administrative authority, notary public) attesting to the authenticity of an official signature or seal on a public document, or of a private signature, so that the signature and/or seal will be accepted whenever the document is produced. The public official certifies only the authenticity of the signature and does not accept any responsibility as to the validity of the document or its content.

In this context Swiss representations have to check each request and to verify, among other things, if an agreement exists on abolishing the requirement for diplomatic or consular legalisation (apostille agreement) between the states concerned, and whether or not Swiss interests are involved.

The Swiss representation in question reserves the right to demand additional information and to reject a request for legalisation, if there is a risk of violating local legislation or of jeopardising Switzerland’s reputation.

Information concerning the legalisation of foreign civil status records for the purpose of registering a civil status event in Switzerland, will be found under the heading Civil Status on this website: